Investing

Investors are increasingly uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market. If you're worried about your investments and want to reduce your debts, you're in luck. Debt reduction gives you a guaranteed rate of return often much higher than your savings and investment accounts. Read article

If you were offered the choice of being paid $100 today or $100 a year from now, you would probably choose $100 today. After all, even at today's low interest rates, your $100 might earn a small return over the next year. This simple example illustrates an important concept: that the value of money changes. Read article

Have you ever considered setting up a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP)? Now may be the time to think about doing so. Current tax law makes these plans more appealing than ever. What is a DRIP? DRIPs allow you to build your portfolio by using all or part of your dividends to purchase additional shares... Read article

Selling a stock is an important decision - almost as important as the decision to buy. Unfortunately, while the world is full of buy recommendations, there is very little advice on when to sell. Here are some ideas to consider. Read article

When you buy shares of a mutual fund, your money is pooled with other shareholders' money and invested in a portfolio of securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) It is the right investment for you? Read article

While investment clubs provide an opportunity for friends or family to meet, learn about investments, and make money, it's best to treat a club as you would any other business relationship. Read article

The IRS often sees the transfer of funds as a loan, whether there is a loan agreement or not. This also means there is an implied term and interest payment. When the IRS says a transaction is a loan, what interest rate do they use? Enter AFRs. Here is what you need to know. Read article

Year end moves by mutual fund managers often cause tax obligations for their fund owners. These surprises come in the way of 1099 DIV and 1099 B tax forms. Here are some ideas to help manage the problem. Read article

Money Saving Ideas

Investors are increasingly uneasy about the ups and downs of the stock market. If you're worried about your investments and want to reduce your debts, you're in luck. Debt reduction gives you a guaranteed rate of return often much higher than your savings and investment accounts. Read article

Don't ignore the impact of taxes on your investments. While taxes should not drive your investment strategy, understanding how taxes affect your earnings will help you minimize taxes and maximize your return. Read article

In some rare cases, making a tax savings move can benefit you in more than one way. This is the case with direct contribution of qualified investments, such as stock, owned more than one year that have appreciated in value. Read article

The Basics

If you were offered the choice of being paid $100 today or $100 a year from now, you would probably choose $100 today. After all, even at today's low interest rates, your $100 might earn a small return over the next year. This simple example illustrates an important concept: that the value of money changes. Read article

When you buy shares of a mutual fund, your money is pooled with other shareholders' money and invested in a portfolio of securities (stocks, bonds, etc.) It is the right investment for you? Read article

Often one person in the household manages the financial affairs. Unfortunately, that means one person will be left in the cold during a divorce or death. If this fits you or someone you know, think about spending some time understanding your financial situation. Here are some ideas. Read article

As you receive informational tax forms like W-2s and 1099s, you will want to make sure they are correct and received on a timely basis. Here are some tips to make this part of your tax filing experience smooth. Read article

"Identity theft" sounds like a movie title, but it is a real-life horror story for hundreds of thousands of people every year. Here are some ideas to help you minimize your risk of this troublesome trend. Read article

While it is not a good idea to tap retirement accounts prior to retirement age, sometimes it cannot be avoided. What can often be avoided, however, is the punitive 10% penalty for early fund distributions. Outlined here are exceptions to the 10% penalty rule for Traditional IRAs. Read article

The "baby boomers," Americans born between 1946 and 1966, are moving like a wave into their fifties and sixties. Unfortunately, between helping kids and parents, many of them are facing new financial pressures. Read article

Have you recently married, divorced, or lost a spouse? A change in marital status should prompt a review of financial matters, but at such a time it is easy to overlook the details. Here are a few reminders and suggestions. Read article

Couples often enter into marriage without having had a serious discussion about financial issues. As a result, they find themselves frequently arguing about money. If you are planning a wedding, here are some steps you can take to get your marriage off to a good financial start. Read article

The tax code is long and complicated. And, unfortunately, inconsistent on how it handles similar provisions. This is especially true when it comes to early distributions from retirement plans. Sometimes rolling over funds from one plan type to another prior to taking money out of the plan can save you money. Read article